Loading ...
SA Stocks Midday: JSE flat amid US holiday
Johannesburg, Jul 3 (I-Net Bridge) – The JSE was flat in midday trade on Friday, but remained jittery having no real indicators to follow amid a holiday in the US, according to a local equities trader.
By 12:00, the JSE all share index had gained 0.16%, having given up 2.31% yesterday. Resources were flat, up 0.05%, with gold counters 0.61% stronger and platinum miners profiting 1.58%.
Banks firmed 0.98%, financials picked up 0.85%, but industrials were flat, giving up 0.02%.
The rand was 7.95 to the dollar from 7.80 when the JSE closed on Thursday. Gold was quoted at US$932.40/oz a troy ounce from US$927.60/oz at the JSE’s last close, and platinum was at US$1,184.50/oz, from US$1,181.50/oz, at its previous close.
A local trader said: “The market is a bit jittery at the moment, and could go either way. With the US on holiday, there is no real indicator, but the local index remains wary of other world markets.”
Dow Jones Newswires reports that European stocks stayed on the flatline following euro zone retail sales data, which posted a disappointing -0.4% month on month decline in May after rising by 0.1% in April.
The outcome is weaker than expected, said Newedge Group. “On a year on year basis, euro zone retail sales fell by more than 3% in May, suggesting that household spending remains under pressure despite lower inflation and government incentives to boost disposable income,” said Newedge.
“We still expect euro zone GDP to contract by 0.7% quarter on quarter in 2Q from -2.5% in 1Q. However, risks are skewed to the downside, especially if June’s seasonal discounts fail to boost consumer spending,” added Newedge.
On the JSE, Anglo American (AGL) was flat, up 25 cents, to 221.50 rand, but BHP Billiton (BIL) receded 42 cents, to 173.88 rand.
Petrochemicals group Sasol (SOL) was down 3.35 rand, or 1.20%, to 275.15 rand.
Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti (ANG) advanced 2.06 rand, to 285.01 rand, and Gold Fields (GFI) added 82 cents, to 93.83 rand.
Platinum miner Anglo Platinum (AMS) gained 7.35 rand, or 1.39%, to 537.50 rand, Impala Platinum (IMP) moved 3.14 rand, or 1.86% higher, to 172.04 rand, but Aquarius (AQP) shed 1.50 rand, or 5.66%, to 25 rand.
In diversified miners, African Rainbow (ARI) lost 3.27 rand, or 2.53%, to 125.73 rand, with Exxaro (EXX) slipping 2.32 rand, or 2.97%, to 75.68 rand, and Highveld (HVL) losing 1.70 rand, or 2.66%, to 62.20 rand.
Metal giant Arcelormittal (ACL) weakened 2.36 rand, or 2.47%, to 93.13 rand.
Elsewhere on the JSE, brewer SABMiller (SAB) firmed two rand, or 1.24%, to 163.60 rand, but Tiger Brands (TBS) edged 27 cents lower, to 148.23 rand.
British AM Tobacco (BTI) was 3.65 rand, or 1.68% to the good at 220.82 rand.
Bidvest (BVT) dropped 1.58 rand, or 1.63%, to 95.22 rand.
Banking group Standard Bank (SBK) improved 82 cents, to 89.12 rand, Nedbank(NED) similarly added 1.25 rand, or 1.27%, to 99.35 rand, and Absa (ASA) swelled 1.65 rand, or 1.52%, to 110.20 rand.
Among retailers Lewis (LEW) shed 24 cents, to 48.76 rand, and Truworths (TRU) gave up 76 cents, or 1.99%, to 37.40 rand.
Among industrials, construction group M&R Hold (MUR) slipped 1.21 rand, or 2.47%, to 47.79 rand, with Group 5 (GRF) also down 1.05 rand, or 3.06%, to 33.30 rand.
Among telecommunications groups, MTN Group (MTN) was flat, down 49 cents, to 118.51 rand, Telkom (TKG) declined 33 cents, to 39.67 rand, but Vodacom (VOD) edged 14 cents lower, to 54.15 rand.
Media group Naspers N (NPN) was 4.34 rand stronger, or 2.08%, at 213.09 rand.
__________________________________________________________________________
At 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT)
TRADE CLOSE PERC POINTS
ALL SHARE (J203) 22220.550 22185.471 0.16 100.079
INDUSTRIALS (J257) 21111.690 21116.400 -0.02 72.360
FINANCIALS (J580) 16316.600 16179.740 0.85 114.000
RESOURCES (J210) 39692.950 39672.941 0.05 175.009
GOLD (J150) 2299.340 2285.320 0.61 22.090
PLATINUM (J153) 63.120 62.140 1.58 0.420
BANKS (J835) 30591.830 30294.211 0.98 298.369
__________________________________________________________________
Value traded 1.958 billion rand
Volume 62.380 million shares
———————————————————————
Highest value traded shares:
BHP Billiton 173.88 rand dn 0.42 rand
Sasol 275.15 rand dn 3.35 rand
Naspers N 213.09 rand up 4.34 rand
Anglo 221.50 rand up 0.25 rand
Impala Platinum 172.04 rand up 3.14 rand
__________________________________________________________________
By Gareth Vorster
I-Net Bridge, Tel: +27-11-280-0693, newsdesk@inet.co.za
Copyright 2009 I-Net Bridge. All rights reserved.
